Vacuum assisted mixer for capsule of dental restoration material

ABSTRACT

There is provided a mixer for a capsule for dental restoration material used for mixing a powder component and a liquid component in a capsule accommodating therein the powder component and the liquid component for restoration of a tooth in the dental remedy field, by rendering a mixing compartment in vacuo so as to make it in a good state where the mixture does not substantially contain air bubbles. The mixer of the present invention has the mixer for a capsule for dental restoration material provided with a capsule holding chamber of holding a mixer for a capsule to shake the capsule accommodating a powder component and a liquid component isolated from the powder component within a cylindrical mixing compartment having an air-permeable filter which can ventilate air outside, placed as an outer wall constituting at least a part of a peripheral wall of the mixing compartment, in a portion other than a portion corresponding to the air-permeable filter, and the capsule holding chamber is connected to a vacuum device.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 09/852,210 filed on May 10, 2001 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,776,516,and in turn claims priority to Japanese patent application 2000-163593filed on May 31, 2000, the entire contents of each of which are herebyincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a mixer for a capsule for dentalrestoration material, which is used for mixing a powder component and aliquid component in a capsule for dental restoration materialaccommodating therein two components of definite amount of the powdercomponent and the liquid component as previously weighed separately,each constituting a dental restoration material to be used in filling,cementing, lining and other applications for restoration of a tooth inthe dental remedy field, by rendering a mixing compartment in vacuo sothat the mixture may not substantially contain air bubbles therein.

2. Description of the Related Art

In general, a dental restoration material is used for restoration of atooth, such as filling, cementing and lining. As the dental restorationmaterial, a two-component system material comprising a powder componentand a liquid component, which are reacted with each other upon mixing,is usually used. Hitherto, this two-component system dental restorationmaterial was provided for use after appropriately weighing the powdercomponent and the liquid component and mixing them with each other.However, in recent years, for the purposes of omitting a weighingoperation of the powder component and the liquid component and anoperation for accommodating the dental restoration material after mixingin a syringe for administering it to a site to be restored, there havebeen developed capsules for dental restoration material, in whichdefinite amounts of the powder component and the liquid component arepreviously weighed and accommodated separately from each other, theisolated state is released at a desired time, the both components aremixed with each other by mechanical shaking in a mixer, and theresulting mixture is extruded and administered directly to a site to berestored, such as a tooth cavity, through a nozzle.

For example, in a capsule as disclosed in Japanese Patent PublicationNo. 38853/1991, a powder component of the two components is accommodatedin a mixing compartment of a capsule main body, and the other liquidcomponent is charged in a bag (pillow) formed by a sheet film, which ismounted on a side portion of the mixing compartment accommodating thepowder component by means of a clip. The capsule main body has an outlethole in a front end portion thereof. This outlet hole can be clogged ina cylindrical bearing portion in a rear end portion of a nozzle.Further, the nozzle is kept from the outside by means of a separatelyformed cap, thereby preventing the powder component from leakage out ofthe mixing compartment. And, when in use, the clip is pushed towarddirection of the mixing compartment, thereby smashing and breaking thepillow accommodating the liquid component therein; the liquid componentis made to flow into an interior of the mixing compartment through anaperture provided on a side wall of the mixing compartment, followed byshaking in a mixer to mix the liquid component and the powder componentwith each other; the cylindrical bearing portion in the rear end portionof the nozzle is then rotated to release a passage of the nozzle; and aplunger is pushed by means of a push rod of a separately preparedapplier to extrude the mixture through the nozzle.

Further, a two-component system capsule for mixing and discharging asdisclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 268555/1987 has a bag(pillow) in which a powder component of two components is accommodatedin a mixing compartment within a capsule main body, and the other liquidcomponent is accommodated in a bag (pillow) formed by a sheet filmcomprising a resin, a metal foil, or a laminate comprising a resin and ametal foil. In this pillow, the strength in the main body side ispreviously set to be low, and the pillow is attached by a cap to bescrewed on the container main body in the front end side of thecontainer main body. In use, when the cap is firmly screwed on thecapsule main body and moved, the pillow is ruptured, the sheet in thecapsule main body side is broken, and the liquid component flows intothe mixing compartment through an outlet hole provided on a center axisof the front end of the capsule main body. Thus, when shaking isperformed in a mixer, the liquid component is mixed with the powdercomponent. After mixing, a through rod set within a nozzle provided on acenter axis of the cap is pushed in and breaks through the sheet of thepillow on the cap side, i.e., on the nozzle side, to form a dischargeoutlet for the mixture. Thereafter, the through rod is removed, aplunger set in the interior of the rear end portion of the capsule mainbody is moved towards the side of the front end portion of the capsulemain body by a push rod of an applier, and the mixture in the mixingcompartment is discharged through the nozzle.

Further, like Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 268555/1987 as cited above,Japanese Patent Publication No. 81384/1991 discloses a capsule fordental restoration material in which a bag (pillow) having a liquidcomponent accommodated therein, which is formed by a sheet film such asan aluminum foil, is provided on the outside of a front end of a mixingcompartment of a capsule main body; and the pillow is ruptured byscrewing and pressing a cap, thereby making the liquid component flowinto the mixing compartment through an outlet hole on a center axis ofthe capsule main body. Thus, when a mixer is shaken, the liquidcomponent is mixed with the powder component. Thereafter, a pillowbreakthrough body-equipped plunger provided in a rear end portion of thecapsule main body is moved by means of a push rod of an applier, tobreak through a front end of the pillow on the nozzle side, therebyextruding the mixture in the mixing compartment.

Each of the above-described capsules used a pillow in which the liquidcomponent is wrapped by a sheet film using a metal foil or the like.Thus, as a capsule not using such a pillow, Japanese Patent Laid-OpenNo. 131459/1996 proposes a capsule having a structure comprising acylindrical capsule main body having a mixing compartment foraccommodating a powder component therein, in which a thin film-like sealportion for clogging a circular outlet hole for mixture, which isprovided on a center axis of a front end portion, is formed, male screwis provided on an outer periphery side surface from the front endportion to a center portion, and an applier-engaging groove is formed onan outer periphery side surface in the vicinity of a rear end portion; acup-like liquid-accommodating tool for accommodating a liquid componenttherein, in which a thin film-like seal portion forming a circularflow-in hole for the liquid component is formed on a center axis of afront end portion thereof, an evagination portion that is embedded in acylindrical portion for forming the mixing compartment of the capsulemain body is provided on an outer periphery surface in the vicinity ofthe front end portion, and a convex stopper having a size such that itdoes not easily slide into the capsule main body during breaking throughthe thin film-like seal portion to form the flow-in hole for the liquidcomponent, however, when a large force is applied, it the stopper notinhibited to slide into the capsule main body, is provided on an outerside surface in the vicinity of a rear end portion thereof; a plunger,in which a tip portion thereof for breaking through the thin film-likeseal portion of the liquid-accommodating tool and the thin film-likeseal portion of the capsule main body has a planar rod-like protrusionin its front end portion, and an evagination portion that is engagedwith a cylindrical portion within the liquid-accommodating tool isprovided on an outer periphery surface in the vicinity of the front endportion; a cap having a nozzle-engaging mouth on a center axis of afront end portion thereof and screw provided, on an inner periphery sidesurface thereof with a female screw to be screw engaged with the malescrew that is a screw provided on the capsule main body; and a nozzlehaving a shape such that a rear end portion thereof can be engaged withthe outer surface of the front end portion of the capsule main body.

In the capsules having such various structures, when the dentalrestoration material comprising two components of definite amounts ofthe previously weighed powder component and liquid component as is mixedby shaking in a mixer, air present in the mixing compartment minglesinto the mixture to stay therein. For this reason, the dentalrestoration material administered in a restoration site such as a cavityof a tooth contains the air bubbles. Accordingly, the capsules of therelated art involved various problems including reduction in thestrength and a change in the color tone with respect to the dentalrestoration material.

Thus, in order to overcome the above problems of the capsules for dentalrestoration material of the related art and to provide a capsule fordental restoration material, which is free from the occurrence of aphenomenon wherein, when a dental restoration material of the relatedart comprising two components of definite amounts of previously weighedpowder component and liquid component accommodated in a capsule fordental restoration material is mixed, air present in a mixingcompartment mingles as air bubbles into the mixture, we, the presentinventors proposed in Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-163408 acapsule for dental restoration material having an air-permeable filterthat does not allow to pass the powder component and the liquidcomponent therethrough but can ventilate air within the mixingcompartment outside of the mixing compartment placed at least in a partof a peripheral wall of the mixing compartment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a mixer for a capsulefor dental restoration material, in which air present in the compartmentfor mixing the dental restoration material comprising two components ofthe powder component and the liquid component accommodated in thecapsule for dental restoration material as proposed above by theinventors is sucked out of the mixing compartment to render the mixingcompartment in vacuo, whereby the powder component and the liquidcomponent can be mixed with each other by shaking.

In order to achieve the above-described object, the present inventorsmade extensive and intensive investigations. As a result, it has beenfound that the object can be achieved by a mixer for a capsule fordental restoration material for mixing a powder component and a liquidcomponent of a dental restoration material by shaking within a mixingcompartment of a capsule for dental restoration material having anair-permeable filter which can ventilate air within the mixingcompartment into the outside of the mixing compartment, the filterconstituting as an outer wall at least a part of a peripheral wall ofthe mixing compartment, wherein the mixer is provided with a capsuleholding chamber for holding the capsule for dental restoration materialin a portion other than a portion corresponding to the air-permeablefilter, and the capsule holding chamber is connected to a vacuum device,leading to accomplishment of the present invention.

Further, it has also been found that when, in the mixer for a capsulefor dental restoration material, the vacuum device is an ejector to beconnected to a compressed air supply device for a dental unit, acompressed air supply device for a dental unit placed in a dental cliniccan be used as a power source thereof, and hence, the system can be madeat low cost and of simple structure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view schematically showing a structure of amixer for a capsule for dental restoration material according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is an explanatory side cross-sectional view of one embodiment ofa capsule for dental restoration material used in a mixer for a capsulefor dental restoration material according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an explanatory side cross-sectional view of another embodimentof a capsule for dental restoration material used in a mixer for acapsule for dental restoration material according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory side cross-sectional view of a still anotherembodiment of a capsule for dental restoration material used in a mixerfor a capsule for dental restoration material according to the presentinvention; and

FIG. 5 is an explanatory side cross-sectional view of a still otherembodiment of a capsule for dental restoration material used in a mixerfor a capsule for dental restoration material according to the presentinvention.

First of all, the capsule for dental restoration material used in themixer for a capsule for dental restoration material according to thepresent invention will be described.

In the drawings, a numeral 1 shows integrally formed syntheticresin-made cylindrical capsule main body, in which a definite amount ofa previously weighed powder component A is accommodated and which isprovided with a cylindrical mixing compartment 1 a for mixing the powdercomponent A with a liquid component B when the liquid component B flowsthereinto. The capsule main body 1 is also provided with an outlet hole1 b for a mixture comprising the powder component A and the liquidcomponent B mixed with each other on a center axis in a front endportion thereof. Each of the exemplified embodiments as shown in thedrawings has a shape such that a cap 4 provided with a nozzle 4 a asdescribed later on an outer surface of the front end portion, or a cap 4supporting the nozzle 4 a together with the capsule main body 1, can befixed (a male screw in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 2 to 4 and anengagement concave in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, respectively).

A numeral 2 shows a liquid-accommodating tool for accommodating adefinite amount of the previously weighed liquid component B. In theexample of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the liquid-accommodating tool2 is an integrally formed synthetic resin-made cylindrical cap that canslide toward the side of the outlet hole 1 b for the mixture within thecylindrical mixing compartment 1 a of the capsule main body 1 and isprovided with a thin film-like seal portion 2 a to form a circularflow-in hole for the liquid component B on a center axis in a front endportion thereof. In the examples of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 3 and4, the liquid-accommodating tool 2 is constituted by a bag (pillow) inwhich the liquid component B is wrapped by a sheet film made by a resin,a metal foil, or a laminate made by a resin and a metal foil, to beinstalled between the capsule main body 1 and the cap 4 provided withthe nozzle 4 a. In the examples of the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, theliquid-accommodating tool 2 is constituted by a bag (pillow) in whichthe liquid component B is wrapped by a sheet film made by a resin, ametal foil, or a laminate made by a resin and a metal foil, to beinstalled in the outside of an aperture hole provided on the sidesurface of the capsule main body 1.

A numeral 3 shows a synthetic resin-made plunger for extruding themixture of the powder component A and the liquid component B mixed witheach other within the mixing compartment 1 a of the capsule main body 1toward the side of the outlet hole 1 b for the mixture. The example ofthe embodiment in FIG. 2 shows an embodiment in which the plunger 3 is aintegrally formed synthetic resin-made one that can slide toward theside of the thin film-like seal portion 2 a within theliquid-accommodating tool 2, a rod-like protrusion 3 a breaking throughthe thin film-like seal portion 2 a of the liquid-accommodating tool 2is provided in a front end portion thereof, and after leading the liquidcomponent B within the liquid-accommodating tool 2 to flow into themixing compartment 1 a of the capsule main body 1, the plunger 3 movestogether with the liquid-accommodating tool 2, thereby inserting therod-like protrusion 3 a into the outlet hole 1 b for the mixture of thecapsule main body 1. The examples of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 3 to5 show that plunger 3 is an integrally formed synthetic resin-made onehaving such a shape that the mixture can slide toward the side of theoutlet hole 1 b for the mixture within the mixing compartment 1 a of thecapsule main body 1. In the example of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3,the plunger 3 is provided with the rod-like protrusion 3 a breakingthrough the sheet film on the opposite side to the outlet hole 1 b ofthe liquid-accommodating tool 2 in the front end portion thereof.

A numeral 4 shows a synthetic resin-made cap having such a shape that itcan be fixed to an outer surface of the front end portion of the capsulemain body 1 for disposing the nozzle 4 a in the front end portion of thecapsule main body 1 (a male screw in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 2 to4 and an engagement protrusion in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5,respectively). The cap 4 includes the embodiments shown in FIGS. 2 and 5in which when the cap 4 is fixed to the outer surface of the front endportion of the capsule main body 1, it supports the nozzle 4 a betweenthe cap 4 and the capsule main body 1 and those shown in FIGS. 3 and 4in which the nozzle 4 a is formed integrally with the cap 4. Further,while not showing in the drawings, it is not necessary that theliquid-accommodating tool 2 is disposed facing the outlet hole 1 b ofthe capsule main body 1, as in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 2 and 5.Moreover, there is an embodiment in which in the case where the nozzle 4a is not rotated, the cap 4 can be omitted, whereby the nozzle 4 a isfixed to the capsule main body 1 by screw engagement or embedding.

In the case where the liquid-accommodating tool 2 is a capsulecomprising a bag (pillow) containing the liquid component B wrapped bythe sheet film as in the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, a numeral 5 shows athrough rod previously set within the nozzle 4 a provided on a centeraxis of the cap 4, such that it breaks through the sheet film on theopposite side to the outlet hole 1 b of the liquid-accommodating tool 2,thereby enabling to supply the mixture of the powder component A and theliquid component B mixed within the mixing compartment 1 a of thecapsule main body 1 into the nozzle 4 a.

In the case where the liquid-accommodating tool 2 is a capsulecomprising a bag (pillow) containing the liquid component B wrapped bythe sheet film as in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, a numeral 6 shows aclip installing the liquid-accommodating tool 2 in an outer portion ofthe side wall of the mixing compartment 1 a of the capsule main body 1.For the use, the clip 6 is pushed toward the direction of the mixingcompartment 1 a to smash and break the sheet film of theliquid-accommodating tool 2 having the liquid component B accommodatedtherein, thereby enabling to supply the liquid component B into themixing compartment 1 a of the capsule main body 1.

In the capsules for dental restoration material having such variousshapes, which can be used in the mixer for a capsule for dentalrestoration material according to the present invention, anair-permeable filter 1 c that does not pass the powder component A andthe liquid component B therethrough but can ventilate air within themixing compartment 1 a into the outside of the mixing compartment 1 a isplaced at least in a part of a peripheral wall of the cylindrical mixingcompartment 1 a of the capsule main body 1.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the air-permeable filter 1 c isplaced in a state of clogging a mixture passage connecting the nozzle 4a for directly administering the mixture to a restoration site of atooth to the mixing compartment 1 a; in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 3and 5, the air-permeable filter 1 c is placed on the side wall of themixing compartment 1 a; and in the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, theair-permeable filter 1 c is placed on the side wall of the mixingcompartment 1 a and the plunger 3 extruding the mixture within themixing compartment 1 a toward the nozzle 4 a for directly administeringit to a restoration site of a tooth. In order to fix the air-permeablefilter 1 c at least in a part of the peripheral wall of the cylindricalmixing compartment 1 a of the capsule main body 1, it is necessary toplace the air-permeable filter 1 c along the peripheral wall of thecylindrical mixing compartment 1 a of the capsule main body 1.Accordingly, in cases other than the case where the air-permeable filter1 c is kept between the capsule main body 1 and the cap 4 so as to clogthe outlet hole 1 b of the capsule main body 1 as in the embodimentshown in FIG. 2, an aperture window is formed on the side wall of thecylindrical mixing compartment 1 a of the capsule main body 1 or theplunger 3 in the side facing the mixing compartment 1 a, and theair-permeable filter 1 c disposed in the aperture window is pressed andfixed by a presser which is similarly provided with an aperture window.In this case, it is preferred that the air-permeable filter 1 c isprovided in a position other than the inner side wall of the mixingcompartment 1 a constituting a sliding surface with the plunger 3 (theliquid-accommodating tool 2 in the example of the embodiment shown inFIG. 2) that slides and moves along an inner wall of the mixingcompartment 1 a.

Usually, a powder component for dental restoration material has a grainsize of 50 μm or less, and a liquid component for dental restorationmaterial has a relatively high viscosity as from 220 to 750 cP asmeasured under the temperature condition of 23° C. using a B typerotational viscometer. Accordingly, with respect to the air-permeablefilter 1 c having such a characteristic, so far as material does notpass the powder component A therethrough, neither does it inevitablypass the liquid component B therethrough. Suitable examples of suchmaterials that can be used include fabric materials textured with fiberssuch as cellulose fibers, glass fibers, polyethylene fluoride fibers,silicone fibers, and silica fibers; and film-like materials made ofnylon, polyester, polyethylene, polypropylene, polycarbonate, polyethersulfone, or a mixture thereof.

Next, the mixer for a capsule for dental restoration material accordingto the present invention, in which air present in the mixing compartment1 a for mixing the dental restoration material comprising two componentsof the powder component A and the liquid component B accommodated in thecapsule for dental restoration material having the structure asdescribed above is sucked out of the mixing compartment 1 a to renderthe mixing compartment 1 a in vacuo, whereby the powder component A andthe liquid component B are mixed with each other by shaking, will bedescribed with reference to FIG. 1.

A numeral 7 shows a capsule holding chamber for holding the capsule fordental restoration material having the structure as described above in aportion other than a position corresponding to the air-permeable filter1 c (in the case of the capsule for dental restoration material shown inFIG. 2, a portion not clogging the front end portion of the nozzle 4 a;in the case of the capsules for dental restoration material shown inFIGS. 3 and 5, a portion not clogging the aperture portion where theair-permeable filter 1 c placed on the side wall of the capsule mainbody 1 is exposed; and in the case of the capsule for dental restorationmaterial shown in FIG. 4, a portion not clogging at least one of theair-permeable filter 1 c placed on the side wall of the capsule mainbody 1 and the air-permeable filter 1 c placed in the aperture window asprovided in the plunger 3 on the side facing the mixing compartment 1 a,respectively). This capsule holding chamber 7 has a structure such thatit can clog an aperture portion 7 a by a lid 7 b in a sealed state,while holding the capsule for dental restoration materials.

A numeral 8 shows a mixing main body provided with a driving portion formechanically shaking the capsule holding chamber 7. The mixing main body8 is also provided with a motor as a driving source, a power sourceswitch, etc. as well as a vacuum device 9 and a vacuum meter 9 a. Thisvacuum device 9 is connected at one end to the capsule holding chamber 7via an air hose 10 and has an inlet 11 for air from a dental unit at asecond end. The vacuum device 9 may be a usual vacuum pump driven by amotor. However, when the vacuum device 9 is an ejector connected to acompressed air supply device for a dental unit, a compressed air supplydevice for a dental unit placed in a dental clinic can be used as apower source thereof, and the system can be made at low cost and ofsimple structure. Thus, the latter is preferred.

In using the mixer for a capsule for dental restoration material havingsuch a structure according to the present invention, in order to mix thedental restoration material comprising two components of the powdercomponent A and the liquid component B accommodated within the capsulefor dental restoration material as proposed by the present inventors, itis necessary to carry out an operation in which the liquid component Bwithin the liquid-accommodating tool 2 is led to flow into the mixingcompartment 1 a of the capsule main body 1. This operation is carriedout in the following manner. That is, in the capsule for dentalrestoration material of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the plunger 3 iscaused to slide toward the side of the outlet hole 1 b of the capsulemain body 1, thereby breaking through the thin film-like seal portion 2a forming the flow-in hole for the liquid component B provided on thecenter axis of the front end portion of the liquid-accommodating tool 2;in the capsules for dental restoration material of the embodiments shownin FIGS. 3 and 4, the capsule main body 1 is moved toward the side ofthe cap 4, thereby rupturing and breaking a portion of the side of theoutlet hole 1 b of the sheet film made by a resin, a metal foil, or alaminate made by a resin and a metal foil, of the liquid-accommodatingtool 2 installed between the capsule main body 1 and the cap 4 providedwith the nozzle 4 a; and in the capsule for dental restoration materialof the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the sheet film made by a resin, ametal foil, or a laminate made by a resin and a metal foil, of theliquid-accommodating tool 2 installed by the clip 6 on the outside ofthe aperture hole provided on the side surface of the capsule main body1 is ruptured and broken by pushing the clip 6 toward the direction ofthe mixing compartment 1 a.

Further, in order to mix the powder component A and the liquid componentB within the mixing compartment 1 a of the capsule for dentalrestoration material, it is necessary to carry out an operation in whichthe capsule for dental restoration material is inserted into the capsuleholding chamber 7 of the mixer for a capsule for dental restorationmaterial according to the present invention from the aperture portion 7a and then to be held. Any of the operation for making the liquidcomponent B within the liquid-accommodating tool 2 into the mixingcompartment 1 a of the capsule main body 1 and the operation for holdingthe capsule for dental restoration material within the capsule holdingchamber 7 of the mixer for a capsule for dental restoration materialaccording to the present invention may be carried out in advance.However, in the capsule for dental restoration material held in thecapsule holding chamber 7 of the mixer for a capsule for dentalrestoration material, when there is no device for causing the liquidcomponent B within the liquid-accommodating tool 2 to flow into themixing compartment 1 a of the capsule main body 1, an operation forcausing the liquid component B within the liquid-accommodating tool 2 toflow into the mixing compartment 1 a of the capsule main body 1 iscarried out in advance.

Next, the lid 7 b is closed for the capsule holding chamber 7 to besealed. Then, air within the mixing compartment 1 a is sucked out of themixing compartment 1 a via the air-permeable filter 1 c placed at leastin a part of the peripheral wall of the cylindrical mixing compartment 1a of the capsule main body 1 such that a pressure within the capsuleholding chamber 7 which is indicated by the vacuum meter 9 a reaches aprescribed degree of vacuum by the vacuum device 9. Subsequently, thedriving portion of the mixing main body 8 is driven to mechanicallyshake the capsule holding chamber 7, thereby mixing the powder componentA and the liquid component B. There is thus prepared a mixture where noair bubbles are present.

After mixing of the powder component A and the liquid component B hasbeen completed, the vacuum of the capsule holding chamber 7 is released,the lid 7 b is opened, and the capsule for dental restoration materialis then taken out from the aperture portion 7 a and is installedseparately in an exclusive applier (not shown). Thereafter, the plunger3 is moved toward the side of the outlet hole 1 b of the capsule mainbody 1 by means of a push rod of the applier. At this time, in thecapsule for dental restoration material of the embodiment shown in FIG.4, a portion in the opposite side to the outlet hole 1 b of the sheetfilm made by a resin, a metal foil, or a laminate made by a resin and ametal foil, of the liquid-accommodating tool 2 is broken through bymeans of the through rod 5 set within the nozzle 4 a provided on thecenter axis of the cap 4, and the through rod 5 is then taken out fromthe nozzle 4 a. Further, in the capsule for dental restoration materialof the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the nozzle 4 a is rotated to aposition shown by a broken line, thereby connecting the outlet hole 1 bof the capsule main body 1 to the nozzle 4 a.

Thus, when the plunger 3 is moved toward the side of the outlet hole 1 bof the capsule main body 1 by pushing with the push rod of the applier,the mixture within the mixing compartment 1 a of the capsule main body 1is extruded toward the outlet hole 1 b of the capsule main body 1 in astate that no air bubbles are present and administered to a restorationsite of a tooth from the nozzle 4 a. In this case, in the capsule fordental restoration material of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, therod-like protrusion 3 a of the plunger 3 penetrates through the outlethole 1 b of the capsule main body 1 and breaks through the air-permeablefilter 1 c installed between the capsule main body 1 and the cap 4provided with the nozzle 4 a. Further, in the capsule for dentalrestoration material of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, when therod-like protrusion 3 a of the plunger 3 penetrates through the outlethole 1 b of the capsule main body 1 and breaks through a portion on theopposite side to the outlet hole 1 b of the sheet film made by a resin,a metal foil, or a laminate made by a resin and a metal foil, of theliquid-accommodating tool 2 installed between the capsule main body 1and the cap 4 provided with the nozzle 4 a, the mixture is administeredto a restoration site of a tooth from the nozzle 4 a.

As described above in detail, the mixer for a capsule for dentalrestoration material according to the present invention is a mixer for acapsule for dental restoration material for mixing a powder componentand a liquid component of a dental restoration material by shakingwithin a mixing compartment of a capsule for dental restoration materialhaving an air-permeable filter, which can ventilate air within themixing compartment into the outside of the mixing compartment, thefilter constituting as an outer wall at least a part of a peripheralwall of the mixing compartment, wherein the mixer is provided with acapsule holding chamber for holding the capsule for dental restorationmaterial in a portion other than a portion corresponding to theair-permeable filter, and the capsule holding chamber is connected to avacuum device. Accordingly, the mixing compartment is rendered in vacuo,and shaking is carried out to mix the powder component and the liquidcomponent, thereby making the dental restoration material in a goodstate that no air bubbles are present in the mixture. Thus, the dentalrestoration material can be administered directly to a restoration sitesuch as a cavity of a tooth.

Further, when, in the mixer for a capsule for dental restorationmaterial according to the present invention, the vacuum device is anejector to be connected to a compressed air supply device for a dentalunit, a compressed air supply device for a dental unit placed in adental clinic can be used as a power source thereof, and hence, thesystem can be made at low cost and of simple structure.

In the light of the above, the mixer for a capsule for dentalrestoration material according to the present invention, which possessesvarious advantages, is greatly valuable in contributing to the dentalfield.

While the invention has been described in detail and with reference tospecific embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to one skilled in theart that various changes and modifications can be made therein withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is:
 1. A mixer and a capsule in combination for a dentalrestoration material for mixing a powder component and a liquidcomponent of the dental restoration material by shaking, comprising: acapsule configured to retain the dental restoration material andincluding a mixing compartment and an air-permeable filter configured toventilate air within the mixing compartment to an outside of the mixingcompartment, placed as an outer wall constituting at least a part of aperipheral wall of the mixing compartment, the capsule containing anoutlet hole through which the dental restoration material passes; acapsule holding chamber configured to hold the capsule in a portionother than a portion corresponding to the air-permeable filter, thecapsule holding chamber being connected to a vacuum device; and aplunger including a protrusion portion configured to fit into saidoutlet hole of said capsule, the plunger disposed within the capsule andconfigured to extrude the dental restoration material when moving andinserting the protrusion portion into said outlet hole.
 2. The mixer anda capsule in combination for dental restoration material as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the vacuum device is an ejector connected to acompressed air supply device for a dental unit.
 3. The mixer and acapsule in combination for dental restoration material as claimed inclaim 1, further comprising a cap coupled to the capsule, saidair-permeable filter being placed between the capsule and the cap. 4.The mixer and a capsule in combination for dental restoration materialas claimed in claim 3, further comprising a nozzle extending from saidcapsule and having a mixture passage, said air-permeable filter beingdisposed within the mixture passage.
 5. The mixer and a capsule incombination for dental restoration material as claimed in claim 1,further comprising an aperture window formed on the peripheral wall,said air-permeable filter being disposed in the aperture window.
 6. Themixer and a capsule in combination for dental restoration material asclaimed in claim 1, further comprising: an aperture window formed on theplunger, said air-permeable filter being disposed in the aperturewindow.